These were the words of DA leader, Mmusi Maimane (pictured), at a press conference at the IEC’s Results Operations Centre. Maine said the recent results were good news for democracy. “For too long, the ANC has misgoverned our country with impunity. Millions of jobs have been lost, corruption has become endemic in ANC governments and hundreds of thousands of people are without basic services.”
On Wednesday the people of South Africa took charge of their destiny and voted for a different future. Nationally, the ANC’s result has collapsed from 64,8% in 2006, to 61,9% in 2011, to 54% in 2016. The DA has grown from 16,2% in 2006, to 23,9% in 2011, to 27,1% in 2016.
The DA’s support increased in all communities, and particularly in places that were previously ANC strongholds. For example:
In the Eastern Cape, in Umzimvubu Ward 23, the DA grew its support from 1% in 2011 to 45% in 2016.
In the Eastern Cape, in Ntabankulu Ward 4, the DA grew its support from 0,2% in 2011, to 45,3% in 2016.
In Gauteng, in Tshwane Ward 38 in Mamelodi, the DA grew its support from 7% in 2011 to 30,6% in 2016.
In the Western Cape, in Philippi Ward 88, the DA grew from 4% in 2011 to 30% in 2016.
In KwaZulu-Natal, in eDumbe, the DA has grown from 4,4% in 2011 to 30% in 2016.
These are just a few examples, but there are hundreds of others. The myth of the DA as a ‘white’ party has finally been shattered. More and more black South Africans are seeing the difference we can make where we govern and are entrusting us with their votes.
Maine said: “As a result of the DA’s growth, we are now preparing to form governments in four metros and 46 local municipalities. In Cape Town, the DA increased its share of the vote from 41.85% in 2006 to 60.92 % in 2011 to 67 % in 2016. This is a resounding endorsement of DA governance under Mayor Patricia de Lille, who has been elected to serve the people of Cape Town for another five years.
“In Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA emerged as the largest party with 46,71% of the vote, up from 40,13% in 2011. Our mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip, will form a coalition government to deliver to all the people of Nelson Mandela Bay.
“In Johannesburg, the DA set out to bring the ANC below 50%. It is clear that the ANC will end closer to 45%. Our mayoral candidate, Herman Mashaba, will be seeking to lead a coalition government in Johannesburg.
“In Tshwane, the DA has grown from 30,69% in 2006 to approximately 43% in 2016. By contrast, the ANC’s support collapsed from 56% to approximately 41,5% in the same period. Our mayoral candidate, Solly Msimanga, will be seeking to lead a coalition government in Tshwane.
“In Ekurhuleni, the DA has grown from in 25% 2006, to 34,2% in 2016. The ANC’s support has collapsed from 61% in 2006 and 2011 to 48,6% in 2016. Our mayoral candidate, Ghaleb Cachalia, will seek to lead a coalition government in Ekurhuleni.
“In Midvaal, we have won outright and with an increased majority, and in Mogale there is also the potential for a DA-led coalition government.
“This means that, beyond our expectations, we have the potential to form a government in all 3 of the Gauteng metros, and Mogale City,” said Maimane.
Outside of the metros, the DA won 19 municipalities with an outright majority. They span three provinces, Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. We are also in a position to form coalition governments in councils in the Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Limpopo. In other words, we are in the unprecedented position of being able to form potential council governments in 8 of the 9 provinces.
The DA says it will govern for all, and will work day and night to improve the lives of the poor. The instruction to all DA-led governments is clear: govern with honesty and humility, so that all can see the difference a DA government makes to people’s lives.